Education & Training: General Information

Cothron's School of Professional Locksmithing 
School license number (SR171)

State of Texas and Louisiana approved training provider for continuing education credits.
Many classes offered.

CALL 512-472-6273 and ask for David Gonzales or Jim Hancock for schedule and pricing.

Course Information


Classes and Seminars
Course Objectives
Certification Requirements
Basic Locksmithing
Basic Locksmithing - Accelerated
Basic Retail Operations
Basic Field Operations

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School Faculty

DAVID GONZALES: ASSISTANT SCHOOL DIRECTOR

David began his locksmithing career as an apprentice for a small family owned shop in 1977. There he learned all aspects of the mechanical locksmithing industry and in short order was named manager of the shop. He also was put in charge of the companies account customers. He came to Cothron's as a road service technician in 1996 where he accomplished all facets of locksmithing from simple rekey work to safe servicing and master key system design. In 2000, David was promoted to the position of Associate Dispatcher. His duties include directing 20+ service vehicles, troubleshooting security problems for both customers and fellow employees and customer relations for the company. He has also acted as an assistant in training classes for Cothron's internal training programs.

JIM HANCOCK: LEAD INSTRUCTOR ; SCHOOL DIRECTOR

Mr. Hancock is a third generation locksmith who began learning the security industry at the age of 10 in his grandfather's shop, Hancock and Son's, during summers and after school. By age 16, he was working as a Mobile Service Technician for Hancock Lock and Key in Gulfport, Mississippi. During this period, also received training in installation of Home Security Systems. After high school, he attended the University of Southern Mississippi taking classes in Pre-Law and Criminal Justice. From 1980 until 1983, he managed another family owned satellite shop until joining Cothron's as a Mobile Service Technician. After several successful years of service, Jim was promoted to Mobile Service Technician Manager and Dispatcher in 1986. He is now the Business and Operations Manager and in charge of Special Orders and part of the Wholesale operation. Jim's areas of expertise are Safe Manipulation, Safe Penetration, Safe Servicing and older Foreign Automotive work. He has also received extensive formal training from the Louisiana-Mississippi Locksmith Association, Texas Locksmith Association, International Association of Investigative Locksmiths and Associated Locksmiths of America including such classes as: Ford 10-cut Ignitions, Locksmithing and Computers, Advanced Safe Manipulation, GM VATS Technology, Allied-Gary Safe Servicing, Basics of Shop Management, ALOA Certified Instructor Training, investigative Locksmithing to name a few. He was named ALOA Instructor of the Year in 2003 and holds the prestigious CML (Certified Master Locksmith) designation from ALOA.

ADAM BLACK: INSTRUCTOR

Adam has been in the locksmithing profession since 1981 starting with Vincent Safe and Lock in Bakersfield California .

He came to Cothrons Safe and Lock in 1997. He is an Access control specialist as well as a well-rounded locksmith. Adam has received certifications from LCN, Von Duprin, Schlage, Yale, Norton and Tidel to name just a few. He has taught classes in Access Control, Impressioning and Picking and is a valuable asset to Cothron's School of Professional Locksmithing. Adam has instructed classes for ALOA, Texas Locksmiths Association and Louisiana-Mississippi Locksmith Association.

He is currently the manager of Cothrons Safe and Lock Electronic Access / Alarm Division.

STEVE COTHRON: OWNER - OPERATIONS MANAGER

Mr. Cothron is a second-generation locksmith who began his locksmith education at his father's shop, Cothron's Safe and Lock in Austin, Texas. Steve worked summers and weekends as a boy, cutting keys and helping anyway possible. Upon graduation from Austin Westlake High School in 1979, Steve began working full time in the family business. In 1990, Steve managed Master Locksmith Inc, a subsidiary of Cothron's, where he was responsible for the daily operations such as inventory control, shipping/receiving, customer relations and personnel. In 1994, he returned to Cothron's main location to assume the duties of Service Technician Manager and Dispatcher. Presently, he serves as President for Cothron's Safe and Lock. Steve has expertise in many aspects of locksmithing including picking, lock manipulation, masterkeying, commercial hardware applications and management.

 School History

Cothron's School of Professional Locksmithing is owned by Steve Cothron. The school was founded in 1997 in order to help meet the growing demand for competent locksmiths in the Central Texas area. Cothron's School of Professional Locksmithing has a close working alliance with Cothron's Safe and Lock Inc. The Cothron family has built a reputation for providing quality security products and services to Central Texans since 1948. In January of 1999, the School changed its name from Cothrons School of Lock Technology to Cothrons School of Professional Locksmithing. In February of 2000, the School's classroom location changed to its present address at 807 East 4th Street.

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